How to Wear Spring’s Trickiest Trend

It can occasionally feel, when I peruse the comments on our fashion stories or discuss the latest runway looks with my friends and family, that the new fashion trends aren’t new, that they aren’t fun, and that they exist solely to punish us mere humans for having, well, distinctly human bodies. But my friends, I am here to proselytize the good news: This all couldn’t be further from the truth. First up, let’s debunk spring’s trickiest-seeming trend—culottes—and its incredibly bad rap.

If we were to attack this the way we might, say, rehabbing the reputation of a political hopeful, the first move would be to readjust the optics. When we say culotte, you are probably thinking of something dowdy and mumsy and lower-abdominal exaggerating, something that will make you look stout and strange and in too-short pants. Forget all that. The new culotte—as seen on the runways at Gucci, Valentino, No. 21, Derek Lam and MM6—is ankle-grazing, it is voluminous, it is actually really, really easy to pull off. (We promise. Not like a politician promises, like a real person with the very real interest in making you not look dowdy and mumsy and in possession of exaggerated lower-abdominals.) It’s a simple update on a classic trouser, so take your cues from bastions of good ol’ American style like Lauren Bacall or Katharine Hepburn and, as Vogue.com Market Editor Kelly Connor notes, “Always keep your proportions in mind; the pant has to hit above the ankle.” Our second move, in running to win over your closet, would be to emphasize that a good shoe is required to keep this kicky look grounded. (An excuse to show off your new shoes? As if we need say more.)

Do yourself a favor and venture away from the ubiquitous skinny silhouette this spring—you won’t regret it. Here, five distinctly chic ways to wear the culotte and never look anything less than winning.